History Main / FinishHim

** John Kreese in ''Film/TheKarateKid1984'' says this, just before his pupil gets his ass handed to him by Daniel's Crane kick.

* ''Videogame/MortalKombat'':

The title for this trope may be a ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' [[MemeticMutation meme]], but it's ''not'' about that, or the [[{{Music/HIM}} Finnish band HIM.]]

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': When Wondy and Hippolyta are before the antagonists in the coliseum in issue 33 the crown holds out thumbs down to indicate they want their deaths.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* In ''Film/{{Dredd}}'', Judge Dredd orders newbie Judge Anderson to put a bullet through a disabled mook's head.

If the winner is TheHero (especially if he is an AllLovingHero), he will more often than not refuse to kill his opponent, and attempt to leave without any more blood on his hands. Thus earning the ire of the onlooker (unless it was a SecretTestOfCharacter all along). If the heroic fighter is more aggressive, he may instead kill the captive to establish his character as being more inclined to brutality, to the [[SmugSnake amusement and satisfaction of the onlooker]] (who may not know that he is next).

* ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'': Averted in the climatic scene of the 14th-season opener, "Forever." Little Joe has finally beaten the [[VillainOfTheWeek villain's]] muscle-man, Hanley, and contemplates dropping a huge boulder on his head to crush his skull … but relents. The villain, Sloan (a ruthless gambler who had earlier ordered the killing of Joe's pregnant wife), scoffs and taunts Joe for his show of mercy … and it ultimately proves fatal for Sloan, who finds he all of a sudden has to deal with his now-former very angry stooge – who does FinishHim

* At the end of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', after the climactic fight against [[spoiler:The Boss]], Snake [[spoiler: stands over his mentor's broken body aiming her own gun at her face. The worst part? [[CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption The game won't continue until you fire]]. You have to make Snake kill the woman who trained him for his entire life. YouBastard.]]
* In the first ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'', you fight alongside Whisper in the Arena. Since two people can't be the Arena Champion, you're ordered to fight eachother to the death. The two of you make a deal to "just give them a good show," with the winner just leaving after nearly killing the other, but it's up to the player whether or not to honor it.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', Commander Shepard can, if his/her Renegade points are high enough, encourage [[spoiler: Jack to kill one of her childhood inmates]] to prevent him from reopening the facility (or alternately use paragon material to talk her out of it). If you let him go, then you get a message in ''Mass Effect 3'' that he has gone straight and thanks you for your mercy. You also get informed that he went down fighting the Reapers and protecting evacuation shuttles.
* Parodied in the episodic VideoGame/SamAndMax games. At the climax of "They Stole Max's Brain!" Sam duels General Skun'kape in a gladitorial arena. After stunning him in traditional adventure game fashion, the only options given are "Finish Him." Instead of killing the General, however, Sam just slaps him senseless for his finisher.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Zuko kicks Zhao's butt in a duel in the third episode. Zhao, probably knowing full well that Zuko wouldn't be able to finish him off, says "do it!" when Zuko has him defeated. Zuko doesn't finish him--our first clue that he's not truly evil. When Zuko turns his back to leave, Zhao dishonorably tries to strike from behind despite having already lost--confirming that he ''really is'' truly evil.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "War World", after Superman defeats Gladiator Draega, Mongul orders Superman to do this. [[AllLovingHero Being who he is]], he refuses, even when Draega himself asks him to do so. Later, in the second part of the two-part story, Draega refuses to kill Mongul, but for a different reason - he tells the crowd [[CruelMercy Mongul does not deserve it.]]

* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' In the episode "Shindig", Mal ends up in a sword duel with a local aristocrat. Predicably (since, well, [[ContractualImmortality one of these guys is a main character and one of these guys is not]]), Mal wins, with the aristocrat lying wounded on the ground. He is informed that to leave his opponent defeated and wounded would leave the man with the stigma of [[FateWorseThanDeath living as a coward]]. Mal responds that "Mercy is the mark of a great man." [[note]]Mal then [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown pokes his fallen opponent twice with a sword]] and [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments proposes that he is instead "all right"]].[[/note]]

* The battle between Zoidberg and Fry in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode, "Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?" Fry refuses, and goes into a dramatic speech about [[ThePowerOfFriendship the importance of friendship]]. At which point [[SubvertedTrope Zoidberg chops off his arm]], [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments causing Fry to]] go into an UnstoppableRage while chasing a terrified Zoidberg and beating him [[GrievousHarmWithABody with said arm]].

->'''Sark:''' FINISH THE GAME!!\\
'''Kevin Flynn:''' NOOOO!!\\
'''Sark:''' Kill him! \\
'''Flynn:''' No! ''[intentionally drops identity disk]''\\
'''Sark:''' You'll regret this! ''[derezzes Crom]''
-->-- ''Film/{{Tron}}''

[[quoteright:340:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/340px-jean-leon_gerome_pollice_verso_7343.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:340:Standard for GladiatorGames, especially in HollywoodHistory. [[note]] ''Pollice Verso'' by Jean-Léon Gérôme.[[/note]]]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** Flash and Prince Barin are fighting on the tilting floor (with pop-up knives). While Flash is lashing Barin with a whip, Prince Vultan yells "Come on boy, finish him!". Watch it on [=YouTube=] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUdMBciScd0 here, at 1:55.]]

->'''Sark:''' FINISH THE GAME!!
->'''Kevin Flynn:''' NOOOO!!
->'''Sark:''' Kill him!
->'''Flynn:''' No! ''[intentionally drops identity disk]''
->'''Sark:''' You'll regret this! ''[derezzes Crom]''

[[folder:Anime]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]


* Near the end of the "Superman In Exile" storyline, {{Superman}} is forced to fight in gladiatorial games on the distant planet known as Warworld. After a hard fought battle against the champion, Superman comes out victorious, and is ordered to Finish Him by the BigBad Warlord Mongul, who is watching the fight. When Supes refuses, it angers Mongul, demoralizes and humiliates the champion (who had hoped for an honorable death in battle), and astonishes the hordes of spectators watching the fight. This part of the storyline was adapted into a ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode titled "War World".

[[folder:Film]]


* ''Film/{{Spartacus}}'' features what may be the UrExample in modern film, with Spartacus and the "Nubian" forced to fight to the death at the gladiator school (in violation of school policy that they would not be forced to kill one another while there) for the amusement of several Roman nobles. In a bit of an aversion, Spartacus, the titular hero, actually loses and his opponent is the one who refuses to carry out the killing blow, opting instead to throw his trident at the evil Roman politician who gave the order and then climb the wall of the arena to get at him. The incident (along with Spartacus' love interest being taken away from him) is what kicks off the riot at the gladiator training facility and starts the slave revolt that forms the main plot.
* ''Franchise/StarWars''
** ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': After Anakin defeats Count Dooku he is ordered to Finish Him by the watching captive, [[ManipulativeBastard Palpatine]]. After surprisingly little fight (or, perhaps, [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter not so surprising]]), Anakin complies, and instantly regrets it.

--> '''Paladin:''' Give him a broadside, Mr. Gerald!

--> '''Tarzan:''' Why should I kill him? He cannot harm me, and I kill only in self-defense or for food....Tarzan kills only whom it pleases him to kill. I shall not kill Phobeg.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]
* ''{{Series/Bonanza}}'': Averted in the climatic scene of the 14th-season opener, "Forever." Little Joe has finally beaten the [[VillainOfTheWeek villain's]] muscle-man, Hanley, and contemplates dropping a huge boulder on his head to crush his skull … but relents. The villain, Sloan (a ruthless gambler who had earlier ordered the killing of Joe's pregnant wife), scoffs and taunts Joe for his show of mercy … and it ultimately proves fatal for Sloan, who finds he all of a sudden has to deal with his now-former very angry stooge – who does FinishHim

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''.

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* TropeNamer is ''Videogame/MortalKombat'', where Shang Tsung (and, subsequently, [[BigBad Shao Kahn]]) orders the winning fighter to do this after every match. However, this only rarely comes up in the storyline, as most characters are killed in battle rather than after it.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the conclusion to the FinalBoss battle vs. the Lich King is a form of this. After all appears lost, Tirion Fordring [[spoiler:shatters the dread runeblade Frostmourne, breaking the Lich King's power and releasing all the souls he's stolen]]. As he floats there helpless, Terenas Menethil resurrects the raid group, and orders the players to finish off Arthas.

[[folder: Web Comics ]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'': [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=339 "So you successfully brought him to my feet. But alive. Kill him then." Which she does. ''Messily''.]]
** Which is invoked on purpose, since she is told to do it with a ''mace''.
* Subverted in one ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}'' strip: the bored young emperor casually wonders what happens if he, instead of giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, makes an obscene gesture. "Does that mean they have to fuck?" . . . And they do.
-->'''Emperor:''' . . . I can't beleive we've been making them fight this whole time.

[[folder:Web Video]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]
* The battle between Zoidberg and Fry in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode, "Why Must I Be a Crustacean In Love?" Fry refuses, and goes into a dramatic speech about [[ThePowerOfFriendship the importance of friendship]]. At which point [[SubvertedTrope Zoidberg chops off his arm]], [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments causing Fry to]] go into an UnstoppableRage while chasing a terrified Zoidberg and beating him [[GrievousHarmWithABody with said arm]].

* In ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'', Creator/MattMercer has his CatchPhrase "How do you want to do this?" to (a) indicate a tough enemy has been defeated and (b) give the player whose character has done the attack a chance to shine by describing what the attack does.

* ''Series/{{Rome}}''. During the assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone just stares in shock]] as Caesar is stabbed multiple times, the unused dagger dropping from his hand. After Caesar collapses, one of the conspirators picks up the knife, places it in Brutus' hand and insists that he strike the final blow, it being necessary for propaganda reasons that Brutus be directly involved.

** Subverted in "A Golden Crown". During the TrialByCombat between sellsword Bronn and Ser Vardis, Lady Lysa calls on the latter to finish him, not realising that he's not holding off deliberately -- it's because Ser Vardis can't get an effective blow on his lightly-armoured yet more skilled opponent. Ser Vardis obediently charges towards Bronn, who expertly dodges him and inflicts a fatal wound.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', the Fight King says this as the main character and {{Hero}}, Finn, is about to [[spoiler:kill his best friend Jake. He doesn't go through with it.]]

* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' In the episode "Shindig", Mal ends up in a sword duel with a local aristocrat. Predicably (since, well, [[ContractualImmortality one of these guys is a main character and one of these guys is not]]), Mal wins, with the aristocrat lying wounded on the ground. He is informed that to leave his opponent defeated and wounded would leave the man with the stigma of [[FateWorseThanDeath living as a coward]]. Mal responds that "Mercy is the mark of a great man." [[note]]Mal then [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown pokes his fallen opponent twice with a sword]] and [[CrowningMomentOfFunny proposes that he is instead "all right"]].[[/note]]

* The battle between Zoidberg and Fry in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode, "Why Must I Be a Crustacean In Love?" Fry refuses, and goes into a dramatic speech about [[ThePowerOfFriendship the importance of friendship]]. At which point [[SubvertedTrope Zoidberg chops off his arm]], [[CrowningMomentOfFunny causing Fry to]] go into an UnstoppableRage while chasing a terrified Zoidberg and beating him [[GrievousHarmWithABody with said arm]].

** In "By Inferno's Light," the Vorta running the prison camp tells Ika'tika to do this to Worf during their fight when it's clear the latter [[YouCanBarelyStand can barely stand]]. Ika'tika, however, is impressed by Worf's {{Determinator}} spirit and chooses not to kill him. Not sharing these values, the Vorta has Ika'tika executed instead for refusing to obey orders.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. Sisko rescues Dukat from the Maquis. While holding a phaser on Maquis members to give them a message, he's told by an increasingly irritated Dukat, "What are you waiting for? Shoot them!"
** In "By Inferno's Light," the Vorta running the prison camp tells Ika'tika to do this to Worf during their fight when it's clear the latter [[YouCanBarelyStand can barely stand]]. Ika'tika, however, is impressed by Worf's {{Determinator}} spirit and chooses not to kill him.

** Subverted in "A Golden Crown". During the TrialByCombat between sellsword Bronn and Ser Vardis, Lady Lysa calls on the latter to finish him, not realising that he's not holding off deliberately; it's because Ser Vardis can't get an effective blow on his lightly-armoured yet more skilled opponent. Ser Vardis obediently charges towards Bronn, who expertly dodges him and inflicts a fatal wound.

* ''Market Forces'' by Richard K. Morgan has a case where the main character actually goes along, after a page of agonizing. This incidentally marks his MoralEventHorizon.